10 top places to live in Notts – and some of their secrets
EVERY year the best places to live in Nottinghamshire are announced by Muddy Stilettos.
The online lifestyle guide comes to its conclusions by weighing up several different aspects of each location, such as the shops, schools and house prices.
As well as the 10 places to be named among Nottinghamshire’s finest, some also make it into the top 260 best places to live in England for 2024. These include Edwinstowe, Newark, Southwell, Woodborough, Mapperley, West Bridgford, Farnsfield and The Park Estate.
However, whilst all of these locations have a great range of businesses and attractions to help with their top spots, Muddy Stilettos has also shared some of the best kept secrets that make each area so great.
FARNSFIELD
This peaceful village may seem out in the sticks, but it is home to a range of pubs and boutique shops. It has a number of well-rated schools which makes it great for young families, as does the amount of great parks and walks in the area. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw away from Sherwood Forest or White Post Farm.
WEST BRIDGFORD
The town is the heart of sports for the county, as it is the home to the City Ground where Nottingham Forest play and Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
However, if you’re a Notts County fan, don’t worry, as Meadow Lane is just the other side of the river in Nottingham, making the town a great place to live if you regularly go to matches or work in the city centre.
The area is well-known for its great schools and independent businesses, but what most people don’t realise is you can enjoy the town from a different perspective by going on one of the river cruises on the Trent, which are offered all year round.
MAPPERLEY
This Nottingham suburb is described by Muddy Stilettos as being “the perfect blend of town and country” thanks to its location between the rural countryside and the bustling city centre, meaning it’s great for those who need to commute into the city for work, but also want to spend the weekend exploring nature.
One of the more unusual facts about the area is that if you visit Private Road you can enjoy a stunning view. This road is the highest part of Nottingham, and sits at 127 metres above sea level.
THE PARK ESTATE
Meanwhile in the city itself, The Park has once again been recognised as one of the best places to live.
While this tranquil estate is just a short walk away from everything the city centre has to offer, from a vibrant nightlife to cultural attractions, it feels anything but. The Park Estate is an elegant area built on the old castle deer park, and still has many mature trees, wide streets and flagstone pavements. Many of the buildings boast attractive Victorian architecture, and the streets even have gas street lamps to keep them lit at night.
One of the best kept secrets about this area is that there is a hidden tunnel connecting The Park to Derby Road, which was built in 1855 for horse-drawn carriages.
WOODBOROUGH
Seven miles from Nottingham you will find the picturesque village of Woodborough, which is surrounded by countryside ready to be explored.
However, whilst the village is rural, it is certainly not remote, and there are plenty of schools and businesses
on your doorstep, including some fine dining and pub options.
There is a range of pretty period cottages and most of the properties there have character one way or another.
The historic village can also be linked back to William the Conqueror, as the first record of land holding for the area is in the Domesday Book of 1086. According to Muddy Stilettos, it shows that “Woodborough was part of a large estate given to William the Conqueror’s son William Peveril.”
SOUTHWELL
Also known for its history is Southwell, with the 900-year-old Minster standing tall in the heart of the town.
Southwell is also home to the original Bramley apple tree, which after 200 years is still bearing fruit. So to celebrate, the town hosts the Bramley
Apple Festival each year in October, which has a range of stalls and cookery demonstrations.
Southwell is also known for its superb schools and nurseries, and dozens of independent stores and boutiques.
NEWARK
Another town recognised as being one of the best places to live in the county. The town has a wide range of businesses, a bustling market square, and its own castle.
In recent years Newark has also started to become popular with the steampunk community, hosts its own “beach” in the summer and is also home to the National Civil War Centre.
From stunning architecture in the centre to a range of schools, the town is also just a 40-minute drive from Nottingham or Lincoln.
Plus with two railway stations, it is a great place for commuters, even those who work in London thanks to the LNER Azuma only taking 80 minutes on average to get to the capital.
However, the real hidden gem of the town, according to Muddy Stilettos, is Strays, which recently relocated to The Ossington Building, and is very popular for its jazz night.
EDWINSTOWE
Also referred to as Robin Hood’s Village, Edwinstowe is surrounded by countryside and steeped in folklore.
It has 375 hectares of Sherwood Forest on its doorstep, as well as the 1,000-year-old Major Oak. It’s a great place to live for those who love to explore, as it’s just a stone’s throw away from Clumber Park, Rufford Abbey Country Park and Sherwood Pines.
You can also keep enjoying the adventure with action-packed holidays as Center Parcs is also quite literally on the outskirts of the village. One of the things most people don’t know about Edwinstowe is that Oscar-winning actor Daniel Daylewis’s grandfather, the Rev Frank Cecil Day-lewis, was once Vicar of Edwinstowe.
Visitors of the church are often spooked by “the face in the window” appearing in the centre panel of the East window.
BEESTON
Unlike many of the other top locations, Beeston is more modern, vibrant and stylish than many others. The town has a cool vibe thanks to its student population, as the University of Nottingham’s University Park campus can be found on its outskirts.
As well as a variety of independent businesses, Beeston also has its own cinema and film festival. It is also served by the tram and is great for nightlife, with many restaurants and bars and 23 pubs –one of the highest concentrations of pubs in a UK location.
Fashion designer Sir Paul Smith was born in Beeston and Line of Duty star Vicky Mcclure lives in the neighbouring village of Toton.
WOLLATON
Last but not certainly not least is Wollaton.
Dominated by the backdrop of the stunning Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, this suburb is beautiful from every angle. It also has good transport links for those wanting to commute to the city.
However, with a range of lovely pubs and restaurants, there is plenty of nightlife here as well.
On Sundays, the mum of Nottingham’s two Michelin star chef Satbains is reported to set up at Wollaton Park and sell homestyle Punjabi snacks. These are super popular and tend to sell out quickly.
The area is also well served for schools and nurseries, making it a great family-friendly area.